First of 2 parts

MANILA, Philippines – Following the publication of stories on inaccurate academic credentials of Senators Ferdinand Marcos Jr and Ralph Recto in 2015, we started verifying claims by the leading 2016 presidential and vice presidential candidates about the degrees they earned.

In the process of doing so, the educational attainment of presidential bets Mar Roxas and Jejomar Binay was also scrutinized.

Below are our findings on the academic degrees of the 5 leading candidates for president, as indicated in their public profiles. (READ: Travails of verifying alumni records of public officials)

Excluded in the meantime are some diploma courses, fellowship programs, and honoris causa degrees that the candidates either attended or completed.

Jejomar Binay

Degrees	Confirmed?
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science University of the Philippines (UP), 1962
Bachelor of Laws University of the Philippines, 1967
Took masteral subjects in public administration University of the Philippines
Took masteral subjects in law University of Santo Tomas (UST)
Master in National Security Administration (graduated with honors) National Defense College of the Philipines, 1990
Master in Management Philippine Christian University, 1998
Certificate in Business Economics Strategic Business Economics Program, Center for Research and Communication (now the University of Asia and the Pacific), 1992
Diploma in Land Use Planning UP School of Urban and Regional Planning, 1993

In January, Binay clarified that he wasn’t able to complete his master’s degrees at the University of the Philippines (UP) and the University of Sto Tomas (UST). This stemmed from discrepancies in two online sources. 

The Office of the Vice President’s website says Binay “took masteral subjects in public administration and law in UP and UST, respectively.” Binay’s academic details were uploaded on the OVP website in August 2010 after he was elected vice president. A check of previous snapshots of that page showed that what was uploaded then was not changed.  

His curriculum vitae, uploaded in 2013 on the websites of two agencies that he had headed as housing czar – National Housing Authority and Pag-ibig Fund – said that he “academically completed” his two master’s degrees. 

Verification with the UP Office of the University Registrar yielded the following information: Binay “was enrolled during the Second Semester 1967-1968 until the Second Semester 1972-1973…working towards the degree of Master of Public Administration. He has earned a total of 24 academic units.” Binay said he failed to submit a thesis that was required to obtain his master’s degree.

Meanwhile, UST’s official student publication, The Varsitarian, did its own check, and reported that Binay “was enrolled in UST from the second semester of academic year 1976-1977 to the second semester of academic year 1979-1980.” He also failed to submit the requisite thesis.

Miriam Defensor-Santiago

Degrees	Confirmed?
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude University of the Philippines, 1965
Bachelor of Laws, cum laude University of the Philippines, 1969
Master of Laws University of Michigan, 1975
Doctor of Juridical Science University of Michigan, 1976
Finished academic requirements (without thesis) for the Master of Arts in Theology, Major in Religious Studies Maryhill School of Theology, 1996

Santiago’s profile on the Senate website says she “finished the academic requirements for the degree Master of Arts in Religious Studies, at the Maryhill School of Theology.” On her curriculum vitae, she wrote, “Master of Arts in Religious Studies (without thesis).”

The registrar of the Maryhill School of Theology confirmed that Santiago “took up courses under the degree program, Master of Arts in Theology, major in Religious Studies. She attended classes from First Semester 1993-1994 up to Second Semester 1995-1996.”

In a follow-up email, the registrar added that Santiago “finished all the academic requirements except the thesis. Santiago proposed to use the book she wrote at that time to be considered as her thesis. The academic staff during that time did not agree.”

The registrar later clarified that she was unsure if Santiago was still writing the book, Christianity Versus Corruption, Political Theology for the Third World, at the time the senator made the request. “Most likely she finished the book and [the book] was ready for publication,” the registrar said. Santiago’s book was published in 2001.

The same book was listed in previous versions of Santiago’s Senate profile, as late as July 2014. As of this posting, it is no longer mentioned in the current version of the page.

Maryhill’s registrar continued, “She brought up the matter again sometime later. The academic staff then decided to consider so she was requested to come to discuss the matter further. However, she was already busy as senator.”

Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte

Degrees	Confirmed?
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science Lyceum of the Philippines University, 1968
Bachelor of Laws San Beda College, 1972

Grace Poe

Degrees	Confirmed?
Took up Bachelor of Arts, major in Development Studies University of the Philippines Manila, 1986-1988
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science Boston College, 1991

Manuel “Mar” Roxas II

Degrees	Confirmed?
Bachelor of Science in Economics Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, 1979

In December, Duterte questioned Roxas’ Wharton degree, claiming that he “did not graduate” there. (READ: Wharton a ‘myth?’ Facts on Mar Roxas and his economics degree)

Days after Rappler shared a certification of Roxas’ degree – requested through the US National Clearinghouse website – a Wharton official confirmed that Roxas is indeed an alumnus of the school.

The verification for the 6th presidential candidate, OFW Family party-list representative Roy Señeres Jr, is still underway.

His profile at the House of Representatives website says Señeres earned a Bachelor of Arts Major in Political Science degree from UST in 1967 and a Bachelor of Laws degree from San Beda College in 1971. Both UST and San Beda require letters of consent from alumni before they could verify records and issue certifications. (To be concluded) – Rappler.com

In the concluding part, we fact-check the academic degrees of the 6 candidates for vice president.

Photo credits: Binay: OVP file photo. Poe, Roxas: Rappler file photos. Duterte: contributed photo. Santiago: file photo from office of Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.